After a 60-day break, NASA's Ingenuity contacts Earth

According to US space agency authorities, Nasa's Ingenuity Mars helicopter has established contact with its controllers after being out of touch for at least 60 days, with the aid of its buddy at the Martian soil Perseverance rover, in a first-ever connection for two months since April 26.

When the helicopter took out on its 52nd mission to Mars' Jezero Crater, it disappeared off the grid.

In a statement earlier this week, Ingenuity project head Josh Anderson of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California stated, "The portion of Jezero Crater the rover and helicopter are currently exploring has a lot of rugged terrains, which makes communications dropouts more likely."

"The team's goal is to keep Ingenuity ahead of Perseverance, which occasionally involves temporarily pushing beyond communication limits," Anderson explained.

"We're thrilled to be back in contact with Ingenuity and to receive confirmation of Flight 52."

"Ingenuity covered 1,191 feet (363 metres) of ground on the 139-second-long Flight 52," according to Nasa analysts. The 4-pound helicopter's major tasks were to relocate the chopper and take images for Perseverance's research team."

After examining the data, the team members concluded that Ingenuity is still in good health.

Perseverance Rover and Ingenuity from NASA have been in Jezero since February 2021.

The latter rapidly met its mission goals with its five-flight campaign to demonstrate that aircraft exploration on Mars is viable.

Later, it began its longer mission, during which it acts as a scout for Perseverance.

Scientists and operators communicate with Ingenuity through SUV-sized Perseverance, which was restored on June 28 after the rover vanished behind a slope from the perspective of the helicopter.

When connection with the chopper was cut off for six days earlier in April, the operators grew increasingly concerned.